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How to start a reading group

Here are some tips we’ve collected from experts on how to start a reading group. Remember to check Reading Groups for Everyone for the latest news and offers.

1. The ideal group size is between eight and ten, this is large enough to allow for no-shows and small enough to make sure everyone can have their say.

2. Monthly meetings work well because it gives everyone a chance to read the book.

3. Libraries, bookshops, cafes and pubs are all ideal venues for advertising your group.

4. You can choose books by taking turns, lucky dip or voting.

5. Try preparing some basic questions to get the discussion started. Simple ones include: did you like the book? How did you feel about but the characters? Would you recommend the book to others? Why/why not?

You can find more resources for reading groups here as well as offers for reading groups.

News

Radio 2 Book Club - Winter titles

The Winter season of the Radio 2 Book Club is out now, with brilliant brand-new fiction titles to discover. The BBC Radio 2 Book Club is on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. It features a wide range of titles and authors, recommending great reads from both new and much-loved writers, encouraging listeners to perhaps try out a genre they might not have read before, and share their opinions and insights on the titles and great reads they’re enjoying right now.

Resources

How to start a reading group

Interested in joining a reading group or starting one of your own? Download our quick guide to getting started. You can also download icebreaker questions to help get your discussion started, and a social media guide to show how you can share your reading with others online.

News

Discussion guides

We know how useful a discussion guide is for your book club meeting, so here you’ll find some recent guides provided by publishers. Free to download, you can use them to help choose your next book and guide your discussion.

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